Photo: llyr and tracey / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Hull City takes early lead against Manchester United with Semi Ajayi goal
The Tigers' center-back scored 17 minutes into Hull's first Premier League match since 2017, stunning Manchester United at MKM Stadium.
Semi Ajayi put Hull City ahead of Manchester United just 17 minutes into the opening day of the 2026-27 Premier League season. The center-back’s strike at MKM Stadium sent the home crowd into delirium, and for good reason: this was Hull’s first top-flight match in nearly a decade.
The Saturday lunchtime kickoff, set for 12:30 BST, was supposed to be a gentle reintroduction for the newly promoted side against one of English football’s biggest clubs.
A return nine years in the making
Hull City were relegated from the Premier League back in 2017. The last time these two sides met was a 0-0 draw in February of that year.
The road back to the top division culminated on May 23, 2026, when Hull beat Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final. Ajayi, who arrived at Hull on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion in June 2025 on a two-year deal, has quickly become one of the club’s most important players.
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The matchday setup
Lewie Coyle and Nobel Mendy both featured in the match, contributing to a performance that, at least through the opening 17 minutes, suggested Hull’s promotion wasn’t a fluke.